The Following Information was taken from Mayor Valley’s First Term Announcement for his candidacy of the newly created Helena – West Helena Mayor’s Race. This section will also feature information pertaining to Mayor Valley’s First Term as Mayor of Helena – West Helena, Arkansas.

Attorney and District 7 Quorum Court Justice of the Peace James F. Valley announced his candidacy for mayor of the new city of Helena-West Helena. Valley declared he was in the running to be the first mayor of the consolidated city at a press conference at Oliver’s Thursday evening.

J.F. Valley joins with other Community Leaders in Celebrating the Consolidation of Helena & West Helena, Arkansas.

“The theme of this campaign is ‘Moving Forward Together,” Valley said. “That’s what the campaign for consolidation was all about. Our people want a brighter future full of economic opportunity and free of the bickering that has been so destructive to our community. This is a campaign of hope. This is a campaign about improving our condition and helping ourselves. This is a campaign that seeks to bring people from all walks of life together in a march toward progress.

“For far too long, we have allowed the negative forces in our community to define our outlook about ourselves,” Valley said. “I firmly believe that we are a good community with great potential. My own experiences demonstrate the opportunities that Helena-West Helena can provide. I grew up in a humble home. I attended public school. Yet, I became a lawyer with two degrees from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. That is the kind of life that we should expect for our children, and we should expect them to be able to come back here and do well financially. That’s why I am in this race. We must move our city forward so that another generation of talented people will not leave us.”

Valley stated that his understanding of the issues would help him be an effective mayor.

“I was in favor of consolidation from the very beginning, and I understand the issues and difficulties that we face as we go forward in the process,” Valley said. “I believe that the city needs someone with an understanding of these issues that can reach out to people from all walks of life. I believe that my record demonstrates that I will stand up for what is right, while being fair to all groups involved.”

Valley stressed that his administration will promote a new focus on job creation, and that one of his top priorities will be fostering a more positive relationship with the county’s industrial recruiters at the Port Authority and Chamber of Commerce.

“I will ask the new council of Helena-West Helena to review the tax structure and offer a plan to pay off the debts of the two cities expeditiously so that we can move forward with improving our infrastructure, safety services, and recreational opportunities,” said Valley.

“I love this city, and my only motivation for seeking this office is to give back to our community a portion of the blessings that God has allowed it to bestow upon me. I believe that this is the time and place in all of our lives for us to really make a difference, to affect the future of our new city for generations to come. We have a clean slate. We will have a new city and all that it entails. For those that want to see us get off to a good, positive start, I urge them to give me a chance to lead this city,” concluded Valley.

Valley is a graduate of Central High School. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He is married to Renee Valley and they have four children – Rachel, Jonathan, Allison, and Lauren. They attend the First Baptist Church of West Helena under the leadership of Rev. Nathaniel Hull, ThD.